Setting up a business is not enough. There is a constant need for innovation that keeps you going. One area that shows this is how lead generation has changed over the years. The traditional methods of lead generation don’t seem to give the expected results.
As per a HubSpot 2023 State of Marketing Report, businesses that use unconventional lead generation techniques are 18% more likely to achieve their sales goals. This is probably the time when salespeople should think out of the box to propel their businesses forward. Let’s take a look at a few unconventional lead-generation ideas that any growing business can benefit from.
While we explore the methods of lead generation, let’s not forget how CRMs like Kylas Sales CRM help businesses with lead management. Click here to read more about it.
1. Top Lead Generation Ideas that May Help Your Growing Business
1.1. AI-Powered Chatbots
Gone are the days when capturing leads was limited to traditional working hours. The customers can search for your services and products at any time they want. This also means that your brand must be able to help them with their queries whenever they want. This is why you need AI-powered chatbots.
These virtual assistants are more than just for answering frequently asked questions or directing visitors to the correct webpage. They can prove to be powerful lead-generation tools that can help you expand your customer base.
While assisting your website visitors, they can engage with them through personalized interactions and gather important lead information for you.
Let’s take a look at how AI-powered chatbots help you with lead generation.
1.1.1. Make Interactive Products Recommendations
If you are into an ecommerce business, you can get your AI chatbot to send personalized product recommendations through emails on the basis of the data gathered on customer preferences.
1.1.2. Help Navigate Webinar Registrations and Send Reminders
Chatbots can assist your website visitors in navigating the registration processes for upcoming webinars. They can also send timely reminders to increase webinar attendance and capture interested leads data.
1.1.3. Automate Lead Qualification
Using a concise survey, the chatbots can collect responses for evaluation and categorization of leads as per their answers. This can get your sales team to direct their sales efforts toward the most promising leads.
Most businesses use Google and Facebook for lead generation. But there are a lot more options that are not used quite often. Platforms such as Reddit, niche industry forums, etc. can offer great opportunities for businesses to find the customers they have been looking for.
As modern consumers seek new, captivating experiences, it’s time that businesses explore unconventional platforms and connect with their customers.
Let’s find out how businesses can use these unconventional platforms to generate leads.
Sponsoring a subreddit can be a game changer for businesses trying to explore the expanse of Reddit. When your target audience gathers in a specific community, you can interact with them in a way you would not have been able to using your traditional methods. You can build a reputation and gain confidence by showing them your real brand and contributing value.
1.2.3. Industry-Specific Forums
For B2B businesses, these forums can be a goldmine. There are numerous benefits of engaging in meaningful conversations with your customers and answering their questions. You gain their trust when you help them with your expertise. Rather than a hard sell, if you offer them insights, you become a trusted partner for them. When they are impressed by your knowledge, they are more likely to explore what you have to offer.
1.3. Geo-fencing and Location-Based Marketing
In a world where customers are more into brands that use personalized approaches, geo-fencing is a new feather. Businesses can use this clever strategy to break borders and connect with their potential customers in a location-oriented manner.
Geo-fencing is the way of defining virtual, local boundaries around a physical location before sending out personalized messages and promotions to customers. The method promotes the presence of the brand and helps attract customers both online and physically.
1.4. Storytelling Campaigns
A lot of brands these days are utilizing the art of storytelling to attract customers. Storytelling is not just a way of communicating but also connecting with your audience on a personal and emotional level. This is the way of involving your subscribers in a unique journey.
Storytelling helps make a brand’s value through factual information combined with emotional and intellectual resonance. It helps make customer experiences more relatable to build real connections. With a continuous narrative experience, businesses can attract customers like never before.
Here’s how you can take advantage of storytelling campaigns to generate new leads.
1.4.1. Be Authentic
Authenticity is the key to successful storytelling. The truer your story is, the better the connection with your audience will be. When you show your human side, your audience will relate more to your brand.
1.4.2. Create Interconnected Stories
Build a connection between each story that you post. Interconnected stories that gradually unfold and progress win more customers. By generating anticipation among your customers, you can keep your customers waiting for the next part of the story. The longing to finish the narrative can be a compelling motivation.
1.4.3. Interactive Elements
Incorporating interactive elements into your storytelling campaigns can keep your audience’s eyes glued. Ask them to provide their input, conduct polls, or ask them to influence the story’s course. When they are highly engaged, they will consider your brand to make a purchase as well.
1.5. Strategic Bartering and Trade
The barter system may have been a long-forgotten strategy. But if you see its benefits, they can still be utilized in a number of ways especially when you are a growing business. Without a doubt, you can benefit from other growing businesses around you. You can make use of trade agreements and strategic bartering to exchange leads, products, and services with other businesses without exchanging cash.
It’s a win-win situation for all the parties involved, who have something the other party needs. The relationship is more valuable than money alone.
For instance, one company can exchange content marketing services in exchange for leads from another company. This way both of them can enjoy the benefits of what they need at no cost.
Let’s take a look at a few examples of how strategic bartering can help businesses with lead generation.
A cross-promotional lead exchange is a partnership where two businesses that complement each other, collaborate to promote each other’s services. For instance, a digital marketing company promotes a CRM that offers them free services. They share leads with similar target audiences and encourage them to consider the other party’s services or products.
1.5.2. Referral Partnerships
Referral partnerships work great for businesses that are from the same industry but offer different services and products. For instance, a real estate agent can come into a referral partnership with a mortgage broker and share leads with each other.
2. Wrapping Up
The ever-evolving business landscape poses several challenges when it comes to generating leads. Businesses that use unconventional lead generation techniques are more likely to build relationships with potential customers.
When the traditional methods don’t seem to offer any benefit, it’s time that businesses move to the unconventional methods that are least explored yet can be highly advantageous. From AI-powered chatbots to strategic bartering, there is so much that you can use for lead generation.
